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The United Kingdom will from 25 February 2026 stop issuing physical visa stickers to Nigerian travellers, replacing them entirely with digital eVisas in what officials describe as a major overhaul of the country’s immigration system.

Announcing the change in Abuja, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) said all new Visit visas granted to Nigerian nationals would now be issued electronically, marking a decisive step in the UK’s transition to a fully digital border regime.

Under the new system, successful applicants will no longer receive a vignette pasted into their passport. Instead, they will access proof of their immigration status online through a secure UKVI account.

The British government stressed that the application procedure itself remains unchanged. Nigerian applicants must still complete the standard online process, attend a Visa Application Centre to submit biometric data and meet all existing eligibility requirements. The only adjustment is the format in which the visa is delivered.

Authorities clarified that Nigerians currently holding valid visa sticker would not be affected by the new policy. Their visas will remain valid until expiration and do not require replacement solely because of the transition.

British Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja, Gill Lever, said the move was designed to simplify travel while enhancing security.

“We are committed to making it easier for Nigerians to travel to the UK. This shift to digital visas streamlines a key part of the process, strengthens security and reduces reliance on paper documentation,” she said.

According to UKVI, the eVisa system is expected to shorten processing timelines since passports will no longer need to be retained for visa sticker endorsement. Travellers will also be able to view and manage their immigration status online at any time, from anywhere.

Officials highlighted the added security benefits of the digital format, noting that unlike physical stickers, eVisas cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with. The system is also designed to provide real-time verification of immigration status.

Once a visa is approved, applicants will be required to create a free UKVI account to access and share their eVisa details when necessary.

The policy shift signals a broader modernization of the UK’s border management framework and places Nigerian travellers among the first groups to experience the fully digital visa rollout.

For frequent travellers, students and business visitors, the reform represents a significant procedural change—one that replaces paper documentation with an online immigration record as the new standard for entry clearance into the United Kingdom.

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Dangote Group has signed a $400 million construction equipment agreement with XCMG Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., one of China’s leading manufacturers of construction machinery, in a move set to accelerate the expansion of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day, positioning it to become the largest refinery in the world.

The agreement will enable the Group to acquire a wide range of advanced construction equipment to support ongoing and forthcoming projects across refining, petrochemicals, agriculture, and large-scale infrastructure development.

The new equipment will complement existing assets deployed for the refinery expansion, which is expected to be completed within three years.

Beyond refining, the expansion programme will see polypropylene production increase from 900,000 metric tonnes per annum to 2.4 million metric tonnes per annum.

Urea capacity in Nigeria will be tripled from 3 million to 9 million metric tonnes per annum, in addition to the 3 million metric tonnes per annum capacity in Ethiopia, strengthening the Group’s position as the largest urea producer globally.

Production capacity for Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) will also be increased to 400,000 metric tonnes per annum, positioning the Group as the largest producer in Africa and strengthening supply to the detergent and cleaning agents manufacturing industry.

Additional base oil production capacity also forms part of the broader expansion programme.

In a statement, the Group described the agreement as a strategic investment aimed at deepening its construction footprint and accelerating its ambition to build a $100 billion enterprise by 2030.

“The additional equipment we are acquiring under this partnership will significantly enhance execution across our projects. With this investment, we are positioning ourselves to become the number one construction company in the world,” the statement said.

Dangote Group is currently accelerating expansion and regional market development as it advances toward its long-term vision of building a $100 billion enterprise by 2030.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Monday, February 16, 2026, arraigned the Chief Executive Officer of Onome Global Market Resources Limited and Lexicon Multi-concept Media Limited, Osabohein Alex Ologbose, alongside his wife Hope Onome Oghelemu before Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

Other defendants in the matter are; Onome Global Market Resources Limited and Lexicon Multi-concept Media Limited.

They were arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, conversion of funds and money laundering to the tune of about N740million contrary to Section 18(2)(b) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and punishment under Section 18(4) of the same Act.

At the point of arraignment, prosecution counsel, O.S. Ujam informed the court that the prosecution filed amended charges before the court on January 28 ,2026, and prayed the court to read the same to the defendant. Count one of the amended-charge reads:

“That you Osabohien Alex Ologbosele, sometimes between January 2023 and April 2024, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, directly took possession of the aggregate sum of N340, 000,000(Three Hundred and Forty Million Naira ) paid into your account with account number 202277 3919 domiciled in Kuda Microfinance Bank Limited, from the account of Hope Onome Ogbholemu with account number, 0827261710 domiciled in Access Bank PLc, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed part of the proceeds of unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(20(a) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition)Act 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

Another count reads; “That you Osabohien Alex Ologbosele, sometimes between January 2023 and April 2024, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, directly used the aggregate sum of N24,100,000(Twenty Four Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) paid into your account with account number 2022773919 domiciled in Kuda Microfinance Bank Limited from the account of Hope Onoe Ogbhelemu with account number 0827261710 domiciled in Access Bank Plc, to establish and operate a music and photo studio located at Crowther Plaza, Gudu District, Abuja, when you knew or ought to reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering(Prevention and Prohibition)Act 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

In view of the “not guilty” plea of the defendants, Ujam prayed the court for a date for commencement of trial.

Defence counsel, Marshal Abubakar, also prayed the court to allow the first defendant to continue with an administrative bail granted by the court, while also pleading that the court grant the third defendant bail for nursing a one year- old baby.

In his ruling, Justice Ekerete denied the third defendant bail, but allowed the first defendant to continue enjoying the administrative bail granted by the court. The judge further remanded the third defendant in Suleja Correctional Centre while adjourning the matter for definite hearing to April 27, 2026.

Investigation by the EFCC revealed how the defendants induced various innocent citizens to pay various sums of money into the account of Hope Onome Oghelemu and Onome Global Market Resources Limited, on the false pretence that the monies were for investment for the procurement and exportation of bags of bitter kola and red kolanut to Hong Kong, China and Indonesia after which they would be paid their Return on Investment (ROI).

Further investigation revealed that investors were not paid their ROI and their investment sums were not refunded.